Uh oh - those Allied troops belonged to the UK's 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, and France's Tientsin Infanterie Regiment, neither of which is at war with Japan. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Wenchow

Japan advises the governments of Great Britain and France that while engaging in peacekeeping operations, our North China Area Army appears to have engaged foreign mercenaries wearing their country's uniforms in Tientsin. Fortunately, after realizing the futility of engaging our forces now that we have established a bridgehead in the city, they appear to be withdrawing. We assume they are mercenaries because all legitimate French and British forces must have certainly withdrawn from the war zone after our urgent advisories of June 2 and June 17. As a token of our goodwill to the people of Britain and France, the Emperor in his divine patience and mercy will grant these forces 3 days of safe passage to evacuate the war zone so they may be repatriated.

Connfire -> Bataan falls (4/3/2011 5:09:17 AM)

According to the Reuter's News Agency, an unusual joint communiqué was issued today by the Foreign Ministers of both Great Britain and the French Republic concerning the deepening tensions in Eastern China, as follows: "Both Great Britain and France would like to appeal to the Japanese Government and it's Armed Forces to cease and desist from their provocative actions in the area near Tientsin, China. While details remain sketchy at this time, Allied forces in this area appear to have been the unintentional targets of Japanese Offensive Military actions taken in the pursuit of Nationalist Chinese forces. There have also been unconfirmed reports of Japanese soldiers infiltrating the Tientsin Military District while wearing the uniforms of the Nationalist forces, possibly with the intent of instigating an expansion of the current conflict There have also been unsubstantiated rumors of atrocities by both combatants on the civilian population of Tientsin. Great Britain and the Republic of France would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that neither is a party to the disputes between China and Japan.

Pending a further investigation into this incident that both parties would like to ask Japan and China to participate in, both Great Britain and France would like to unconditionally accept the Emperor's offer of a cease-fire in the Tientsin area for a 3 day period. During this time, every effort will be made to evacuate all British and French forces, dependents, and ex-patriot workers from Tientsin to the Greater Shanghai area. We implore Nationalist forces in the area to also adhere to said cease-fire in order to facilitate the evacuation process. In addition, the British Admiralty has been ordered to secure sufficient sea lift capacity to make it possible to extend the evacuation effort to include all Colonial forces, dependents, and ex-patriot workers in the Shanghai area as soon as might be practicable

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/15/26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Midway at 95,61

Message from the Imperial Palace to the Nations of the World (conveyed by a spokesman for Crown Prince Hirohito):

We are pleased to announce the war in our brother state of Manchuko has ended. We consider Manchuko to be a sovereign nation, and have already exchanged ambassadors.

We hold no ill will towards our brother nations who recently voted in the majority against the Japanese-sponsored resolution accepting Manchuko as a full member of the League of Nations. We trust that the nations who voted negatively were not unduly influenced by the lies fostered by our Chinese and American enemies. We realize, in particular, that Britain, France, and Holland must have felt that voting against our initiative was in their national interest. We are confident that in the future they will reconsider their decisions.

We will not burden the League of Nations with the Manchurian Question again, until the Asian War is settled. As an interim step, Japan and Manchuko have taken the proactive initiative and formed a political and military alliance called the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. Japan will guide and protect any free Asian country or province seeking equal status with the nations of the world, and will represent their interests in the League of Nations until they are accepted as full members. We are delighted to announce that the councils in the provinces of Foochow, Canton, and Shandong (the peninsula which contains Tsingtao) have all unanimously voted to join the growing Co-Prosperity Sphere, and their memberships have been happily accepted.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/18/26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Wake Island at 82,63

Picture shows the moment the two forces stumbled into each other in the dark. I don't think either of us was expecting to find what we encountered here. The US ships acted like good BCs and CLs and ran away from the heavier force, just like would have done in real life - they were too fast for me to catch.

The heavy ships on both sides are Kirk's artwork, as are some of the IJN DDs. The Japanese CLs, many of the IJN DDs, and all of the USN DDs are Graham's (hellfirejet) artwork. The 4 USN Omaha class CLs are stock artwork from the game.

Japanese heavy ships art looks good,I will be upgrading the USA destroyers soon and all the light cruisers once I'm finnished with redoing the Pre-dreadnoughts,I see the Lexington Battlecruisers are fully operational as well.[;)]

The Japanese representatives of the Shanghai Municipal Council call an emergency meeting at City Hall. They state that they have been instructed to convey that their government shares the distress the neutral parties in the Asian War are no doubt feeling over the fact that American submarines appear to be using the city as a base for offensive operations. This jeopardizes Shanghai's status as an international city, and brings with it the threat that the Imperial Japanese Navy may unavoidably have to pursue the submarines into the city's territorial waters.The Japanese then propose a resolution stating that the submarines have 3 days to leave port, or face internment at the hands of the neutral representatives in accordance of the rules of war.

"The British Commonwealth and French Republic's Representatives to the Shanghai Municipal Council support the creation of a joint committee to ferret-out whether or not there are any basis for the allegations made by the Japanese Representative concerning the use of Shanghai's Port Facilities by conflict billigerents. However, the boycott of the recent meeting by both the Nationalist Chinese and the American Representatives have raised a procedure problem, as the total available participants at the Shanghi Municipal Council is at least one vote shy of that which is required for a quorum. Please be advised that we are employing every available means to convince Washington's Representative to rejoin the Council at the earliest opportunity to do so. Until such time, the Council will have to defer this matter for the present"

Connfire -> RE: Air attacks at Manila (4/6/2011 5:36:50 AM)

From now on, when I repost "diplomatic activity" from PmBodkin, it will be in red, to distinguish them from my own posts, which as always will be blue.

Connfire -> Japanese subs sunk (4/7/2011 5:57:44 AM)

The Japanese representatives to the Shanghai Municipal Council reminds their fellow councilmen that they are acting under the instructions of their government, and respectfully advises their counterparts that perhaps they should consult with theirs. Allowing one warring nation safe haven to attack another from a neutral area is a clear violation of the Geneva Convention, and violates the very spirit of Shanghai’s international character. Especially in light of the recent unpleasantness in Tientsin, we should think that the protection of innocent lives and the prevention of avoidable incidents should take precedence over whether or not the Shanghai Municipal Council can raise a quorum. We also reject the need for a joint commission to confirm what anyone taking a stroll along the waterfront can see with his own eyes. The British have a significant security force in Shanghai, and since they are not belligerents in this conflict, we implore them to enforce the Geneva Convention, of which they are signatories.

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 07/30/26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 113,67

The Japanese government announces that Tientsin Province has asked for, and welcomed into, the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 113,66

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/01/26

In back smoked-filled room at a Tokyo Diplomatic reception, the following off-the-record conversation was overhead between the British Ambassador and the Japanese Foreign Minister: ".....You know, this recent episode of conflict could have been averted by timely and conscious discussions on the part of all warring parties, with the exception of the Chinese, of course. His Majesty's Government is of the position that the presence of our Commonwealth Forces in the Shanghai area actually has the potential to help de-escalate the current conflict by their very existence. The Americans have let it be known to us, which we will officially deny of course, that they are most willing to restore the pre-war status quo without conditions as long as the Japanese evacuate their current positions in the Philippines. The quid-pro-quo of this position is that the Americans will concede Japanese hegemony over those regions of China that are currently occupied by Japanese forces, as long as a public admission of this concession is not made by Japan. Furthermore, they will be wiling to compromise on such issues as reparations for property and casualty losses in the Philippines caused by Japanese aggression. The USA informs us that they are also willing to consider a cease-fire in-place as part of the process to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate any further conflict between the two nations. Otherwise, the USA has informed His Majesty's Government that they will ignore all future peace overtures, and will instead, insist upon the concept of Unconditional Surrender on the part of the Japanese Empire. His Majesty's Government would like to encourage this back-channel communication between the 2 major warring parties under the impartial stewardship of our Foreign Ministry".

The Foreign Minister says this is valuable information indeed, and will report this to his government. About an hour later, as the party is winding down, a naval captain discreetly approaches the British Ambassador and says in American-accented English "I have been instructed to tell you that an old friend will be calling for tea at the British embassy in two days. Please share this with no one". -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 28 encounters mine field at Manila (43,52)

Numerous acts of terrorism and insurrection break out throughout Java in the Dutch East Indies. The unrest is attributed to the Communist Party of Indonesia (native initials PKI) who declare this is a Communist Revolution. The event panics many Dutch, and in the days and weeks which follow the Dutch colonial army fights back vigorously, and many Communists are deported outside of the East Indies. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 97,61

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/03/26

At tea time, highly respected elder statesman and Japan's last surviving genro, Saionji Kinomichi, calls upon the British Embassy in Tokyo. He led Japan's delegation at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. After the usual pleasantries, the two retire to a private room. Kinomichi gets right down to business. He says he personally believes a cease fire with the Americans would be desirable and in both nations' interest. However, this will be exceedingly difficult. He can try to influence Emperor Taisho, but he is old and increasingly isolative. His son, Crown Prince Hirohito, seems be more favorably inclined toward the military leaders now guiding Japan.

It must be understood that Japan feels it was treated very dishonorably by the United States at the failed Washington Naval talks 5 years ago, and the subsequent humiliation during the Manchurian Crisis the following year. The militarists have purged many of the opposition, indeed I must remain on constant guard against assassination as well. But I am not alone in opposing our nation's current course. The young Captain who conveyed my message two days ago attended university in America - Harvard, I think, and very brilliantly compared declaring war on America to "awakening a sleeping giant".

If we proceed carefully, an honorable peace will be difficult, but not impossible. But the Americans must be told that while posturing about Japan choosing between immediately withdrawing from the Philippines or face unconditional surrender may play well in Pittsburgh, it will be playing right into the Japanese military's paranoia and propaganda. Right now the military has a firm grip on Japanese society, and they will react very badly to any real or perceived humiliation or dishonor at the hands of the USA or any other Western nation. As one of Japan's oldest friends and allies, we are sure the British will understand... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near Wake Island at 82,63

A group of college students begin demonstrating at their campus in Bandung, on Java in the Dutch East Indies. Their signs are both anti-Communist and anti-Dutch, and they proclaim the formation of the Indonesian National Party, known by its local initials as the PNI. When questioned by reporters, the demonstrators state that they support an independent Indonesia which can take its rightful place in the family of nations.

Connfire -> Trouble in Java (4/10/2011 5:21:37 PM)

The British Naval Liaison Officer at the Tokyo Embassy was reported to have made the following statement to the Japanese Press regarding allegations of clandestine support for American submarines and/or warships in Shanghai:

"The Admiralty can state categorically that rumors of clandestine support for the American Navy at Shanghai and/or the Crown Colony of Hong Kong are totally baseless and without merit. Under no circumstances are such allegations true. As such, there is no need to consider such actions as confiscation or internment of said warships at this time." Further questions from the Press concerning possible past instances of support were met with a response of "No comment".

A second day of demonstrations in Bandung results in Dutch colonial troops predictably intervening. The situation deteriorates rapidly, with riots spreading from the campus throughout the Bandung. The Dutch claim they were provoked, and blame both the PNI and Communist agitators for the unrest.

The Dutch Colonial Desk issued a statement today concerning the reported unrest in several parts of the Dutch East Indies. United Press reports the following: "Recent reports of civil disobedience on the part of the Malaysian population should not be misconstrued by other Asian nations that the rule of law within the Dutch Colonial Territories has been compromised. As such, the Colonial Governor has ordered a heightened alert status to all Military Units within the jurisdiction. This will result in "war time" like patrols of the territorial boundaries around those areas deemed essential to the lifeblood of the colonial economy. Any belligerent, or non-belligerent vessel, entering these areas will be fired upon as our military forces deem necessary in the interest of the common defence"

AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/05/26 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near Manila at 43,52

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/06/26

The riots in Bandung are the top story in Japanese newspapers, which appear sympathetic to the PNI. The newspapers do report the Liaison’s remarks verbatim, below the fold and without comment from any government officials.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/07/26

International press report that the situation in Bandung appears stabilized. The college is closed, it is unclear when it will reopen. Some of the student activists have been captured, but the whereabouts of the majority of them are unknown.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/09/26

A bomb explodes outside an army barracks in Tjilitjap, on Java in the Dutch East Indies. Both the Communists and the PNI blame each other. The Dutch don't care which group is responsible, as they declare both outlawed parties and its leaders subject to immediate arrest for the capital crimes of sedition, treason, and terrorism.

According to the Wire Services and Major Newspapers, President Coolidge's Secretary of War, Dwight F. Davis conducted an unusual press briefing at the Blair House to discuss rumors of a deteriorating combat situation in the Central & Western Pacific. Reports quote him as follows: "In the interest of minimizing civilian injuries and collateral damage, President Coolidge, with advice and consent from both the Army Chief of Staff and the Chief of Naval Operations, has ordered the immediate evacuation of Manila by US and Filipino Military forces. By declaring Manila an "Open City", we hope to prevent a humanitarian disaster on an epic scale by moving military activities as far away from the civilian population as possible. In accordance with International norms of conduct, we implore the Emperor of Japan to respect our gesture and to protect the population of Manila from reprisals and atrocities similar to what has reportedly occurred in urban centers captured by Japan on the Chinese Mainland.

Furthermore, we would like to re-state the hopes of the people of America for a peaceful resolution to the current state of hostilities between our 2 nations. We appeal to the Emperor to reign-in the "Young Turks" who have apparently hijacked the Foreign Policy of the Japanese Nation for their own selfish and dastardly purposes. However, even for a nation founded under Christian principles, such as ours, we cannot and will not turn-the-other-cheek to an aggressor nation that defies all norms of International conduct. The choice for the Emperor and Japan is a simple one, to cease their current criminal conduct or face the wrath of a nation of Christian warriors with the stated goal of removing evil from the face of the earth"

When asked about rumors of major battlefield and naval losses that have been hidden from the public, Secretary of War Davis responded with a "no further comment" remark.

This was a brief, violent battle. DD Perry blew up and sank almost immediately from a magazine explosion, while SS No. 34 took some serious hits which breached her hull and caused both fires and flooding. She sank with all hands 14 days later trying to make it back to base. Kind of strange how this battle was happening at the same time that USN S-34 was battling for her life at Manila. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Naga

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near French Frigate Shoal at 104,68

Japanese Ships SS UC-90 (O4)

Allied Ships DD Selfridge

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ASW attack near French Frigate Shoal at 104,68

Japanese Ships SS UC-90 (O4), hits 1

Allied Ships DD Selfridge DD Percival DD Crosby DD Upshur

The Japanese host an elaborate flag raising ceremony at the legislative building at Manila. Foreign press are invited to the event, which is punctuated by a large crowd of cheering Filipinos waving Japanese flags and greeting smiling soldiers who pass out candies and sweets to children. The neighborhood and grounds surrounding the capitol are immaculate, with no sign of damage. Astute observers note that the crowd does not seem to extend beyond the capitol area, and there is a heavy security perimeter. Remarks by the Japanese commander, translated in English and Tagalog, boast that not a shot was fired after the Americans declared Manila an Open City, and it can be hoped that that the wise ceasing of resistance in the face of overwhelming force opens a new, more civilized chapter in warfare. Requests to tour the rest of the city are politely, but firmly deferred until it can be assured that the entire city is secure.

While on patrol off Soerabaja as part of the heightened state of alert, the Dutch coastal battleship De Zeven Provincien experiences a mutiny. Some officers are murdered, and other loyal crew members end up in the brig. Exactly who is behind it or why is unclear, thought is known that there are large numbers of native Indonesians serving as ordinary seamen in the Dutch Asiatic Fleet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naval bombardment of Cebu Island, at 42,58 - Coastal Guns Fire Back!

8/21 The BB De Zeven Provincien continues to steer aimlessly about the area of Soerabaja. Other ships surround her, keeping their distance. She resists all attempts at communication. The mutiny makes it into every major newspaper.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night Time Surface Combat, near Cebu Island at 42,58

The mutinous Indonesians on the BB De Zeven Provincien send a general message on the ship’s wireless, saying they are in sympathy with the PNI, and demand the Dutch government recognize them as a legitimate political party. The Dutch naturally refuse to do so. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 97,61

The mutinous Indonesians on the BB De Zeven Provincien put out a public call for Japanese assistance on the ship’s wireless, saying they wish for the Dutch East Indies to join the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere. When asked about the matter, the Japanese foreign minister vehemently denies that Japan has anything to do with the mutiny, and publicly calls for both the mutineers to stand down and for the Dutch to show them restraint.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack near French Frigate Shoal at 104,68

Historically, Sian and Homan were where the Chinese Communists retreated to after the Long March. In other games, the cities are marked as Communist. But of course, the March was in 1934 and 35, so they're just normal cities in WPO. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at Nanning

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/24/26

Running low on provisions, the BB De Zeven Provincien attempts to re-supply at Kragen. A pair of float planes of the NEI Recce Squadron brought in from Batvia launches an air strike, with one bomb striking the ship. The BB herself suffers very little damage, as it is an anti-personnel (fragmentation) bomb, but the mutineers suffer high casualties and surrender. The ship is returned to Soerabaja. Many in the Western press hail the attack as an efficient way of ending the crisis, though the newspapers in Japan and other areas of the Co-Prosperity Sphere do not share the enthusiasm. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Cebu Island, 42,58

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/25/26

French authorities in Hanoi, Hue, and Saigon note an increasing number of pro-Japanese banners and signs in the cities. The pro-Japanese supporters appear to be outnumbered by both the pro-French residents and the local independence-minded Communists. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Cebu Island, 42,58

The whole episode with the Dutch BB De Zeven Provincien is borrowed from a real incident which happened in 1933. I originally stumbled upon it while researching something else - it made worldwide news at the time. With all of the turmoil happening in Asia, I projected it to occur 7 years earler. What's interesting about this ship is when she came under air attack by the Dutch in 1933 she was one of the first ships ever to suffer damage from air attack in combat. In World War II, she was sunk, by air attack, by the Japanese. The Japanese raised her and recommissioned her into their navy. She was sunk a second time, this time for good, from an air attack from a third country - America. Read more here.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/30/26

Dateline Ottawa, Canada : Liberal members of Canada's 15th Parliament launched into a series of accusatory diatribes against Canada’s newest Prime Minister, Arthur Meighen, and his Conservative Party today concerning the potential risks for Canada's involvement in the Pacific War between the USA and Japan. These accusations were made after rumors of clandestine support for the USA and/or secret mobilizations were published by an Investigative Reporter from the Toronto Gazette. After threatening to have the opposition party forcibly removed from the Chamber, Prime Minister Meighen responded to his critics by stating that the only role that his Government was interested in was one of being a mediator and peacemaker between the warring parties. After one of the MP's joked about him wanting to win a Nobel Prize, a la Teddy Roosevelt, Meighen stated that Canada is not obliged by either treaty or tradition to automatically side with the USA in the current conflict. Furthermore, that Canada would not even consider participating in any type of mobilization of military forces unless officially requested to by Great Britain or another member of the British Commonwealth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Puerto Princesa, 38,55

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 08/31/26

Both commercial fisherman and residents all along Canada's British Columbian Provincial coastline report numerous instances of "periscopes" and "unidentified undersea vessels" navigating close to the BC coast. The Ministry of Fisheries Acting Director states that "these sightings do not fit the normal transitory migration of known whale species" and that marine life can all but be ruled out as the cause of this public paranoia. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TF 101 troops unloading over beach at Puerto Princesa, 38,55

Today's 1st Autumn session of the BC assembly was punctuated by the assertion by the Liberal Minority that the public's panic concerning possible submarine sightings was "....obviously the work of the US Navy, in an attempt to promote Anti-Japanese hysteria and to coerce the Canadian Nation to come to their (The USA's) aid".

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ground combat at San Jose

Japanese Deliberate attack

Attacking force 690 troops, 1 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 19

Defending force 0 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 0

Japanese assault odds: 17 to 1 (fort level 0)

Japanese forces CAPTURE San Jose base !!!

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/02/26

Dateline Vancouver, BC: Numerous reports of surfacing "U-Boats" within the immediate confines of Vancouver Harbor have been logged by authorities. The Royal Canadian Constabulary has activated several local maritime patrol militia units that are normally dedicated to the mission of anti-smuggling and tax revenue for patrols beginning at 1st light on 9/3. In addition, there have been reports of the requisitioning of several cases of dynamite by the local authorities that were originally destined for one of the gold mining camps in the mountains. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sub attack at 65,45

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/03/26

Dateline Vancouver, BC: A local reporter who was able to secure a ride on one of the RC Constabulary craft reported, upon docking, that his craft was activity engaged in the stalking of an "unidentified submersible vessel" for several hours this morning. This effort included the active preparation and fusing of wads of dynamite for use in potentially sinking the unidentified craft. It was only the sharp eyesight of a ship's mate that prevented the needless demise of a pod of Orca's that has been mistakenly identified as foreign submarines.

Japan and the rest of the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere welcome the province of Guangxi (containing the cities of Nanning and Pakhoi) after the provisional council voted unanimously to join the sphere. At the request of the council, Japan will consider Guangxi a special protectorate for the time being. (Guangxi had a wild reputation and a history of rebellion against centralized authority in the early 20th century).

Japan informs France that it welcomes the opportunity for increased cooperation and friendship now that they share a common border, just as she does with the United Kingdom along the Canton/Hong Kong border.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/05/26

A bomb explodes in Pakhoi near a building commandeered as barracks by the Imperial Japanese army. The Japanese Foreign Minister says the situation is stabilized, and suspects have been arrested and are being interrogated.

Hilo, Hawaii @ the Editor's Desk of the Hearst Affiliated local Newspaper: The photograph, fresh out of the development lab, was still wet and smelled of the finishing "fixer" chemical. At 1st glance it looked a bunch of gray and black images with intermittent orbs of brightness in the foreground. The poor quality was not a surprise, as it was taken with a cheap Kodak Brownie Camera at a bad angle and a night. However, closer scrutiny of the photograph with a magnifying glass in conjuntion with the avadavit supplied by the person who took the photo seemed to add credibility to story, even though this opportunity cost the Newspaper $200 in cash to secure over the competition. Considering the fact that the amateur photographer in question was a dock worker at a local Oil Refinery; the "Headline Potential" of this evidence was very compelling......... now if we can just find some kind of confirmation within this image. Unsubstantiated reports of strange dialects and uniforms on a Man-o-War in Hilo Harbor loading up with Marine Bunker Fuel. "Wait, what's that look like to you, Jones", "Looks like a partial British Naval Ensign with a some kind of shield or crest on it, Sir............."

Because we had so much "diplomatic activity" in the 3-day turn cycle of September 10 to September 12, I am posting it as a seperate entry. Remember, as always, connfire's entries are in blue, and pmbodkin's are in red.

September 10, 1926

In Tokyo - The Japanese Foreign Minister summons the British ambassador to explain the meaning of the New York World article. They agree to meet in two days.

In the Dutch East Indies - Because the rebellious BB De Zeven Provincein attempted to refuel there, the Dutch Colonial Army beefs up its patrols in Kragan. Several small skirmishes break out this week between Dutch troops and alleged rebels. The unrest spreads this week, on a small and uneven scale, to other areas on Java, as well as Sumatra and Borneo. PNI and Communist agitation are blamed.

September 11, 1926

Dateline, Ottawa, Canada: Prime Minister Arthur Meighen has announced that he has accepted the resignation of the Minister of the National Defense, Minister Hugh Guthrie, effective immediately. No replacement was announced at this time, but one will be nominated in due course, according to the Government Information Ministry. Furthermore, the Prime Minister has called into special session both Chambers of Parliament at 10:00 AM on 9/12/26 to address the current state of affairs. Rumors abound concerning the exact circumstances of the reported movement of certain units of the Canadian Military and whether or not they represent some kind of extra-legal attempt to circumvent key Covenants of the Canadian Confederation. There has also been more than a little speculation that the Governor-General of Canada (Lord Bing of Vemy) may have exceeded his authority as the Crown's Representative to the Nation. Coming on the heels of last year's "King-Byng Affair", the latest events seem to have put the Nation on the precipice of it's 2nd Constitutional Crisis in less than a year's time. The Progressive Block in the Parliament, which has constituted the swing vote between the Conservatives and the Liberals, has been relatively cooperative with the Meighen Government to date. That support, moving forward, is uncertain to say the least. In the meantime, the streets of Ottawa have become filled with the Widows, Orphans, and disabled veterans of the Great War in a spontaneous eruption of anti-war sentiment. Signs reading "No more Passandales" and "Farewell to more Flanders" can be read at almost every street corner near the Capital. September 12, 1926 certainly appears to be a day that will be historic for Canada, and possible, the entire World.

In China - A bomb disguised to look like road debris kills several Japanese engineers at the junction 120 miles west of Nanning (hex 38 37).

September 12, 1926

In Tokyo - In light of recent events, the meeting between the Japanese Foreign Minister and the British Ambassador goes better then expected. He says the Japanese are learning for themselves that it can sometimes be difficult to manage an empire composed of peoples with diverse interests and goals - even if the "empires" are called Commonwealths or Co-Prosperity Spheres in the 20th century. He trusts the British will exert the leadership which Japan has always admired and emulated to keep Canada and any other Commonwealth nation out of the war. We all wish for peace, but sometimes war appears like an uninvited guest. No matter what happens, for the sake of the world peace for which we fought side by side the last decade, peace between the nations of the Commonwealth and Co-Prosperity Sphere must be maintained. And now, my friend, unless you have anything else you'd like to discuss, I bid you farewell for today...

Meanwhile, across town - At the regular monthly meeting between the Naval Attaché’s of Great Britain and France with their primary Imperial Japanese Naval contact, for an evening of frivolities at their favorite Bath/Geisha House: After the customary, and repeated, toasts of "Long live the King", "Vive la France, Vive la Republic", and "Long Live the Emperor" washed down by almost 2 bottles of Special Single-Malt, the conversation gets amazingly candid between all three guests. "You chaps have done a great job of quickly building an Empire, but, the big challenge will be keeping all these little people, who think they are entitled to make unlimited demands on the Exchequer, in-line most of the time. Why this whole Canadian controversy was solely the product of the incessant demands of the Aussie's and the Kiwi’s for Battleships and non-existent Divisions to protect them from what they feel is an imminent threat from Japan, for example. The Admiralty got so tired of the almost daily cables from the Colonial Desk that we had to find an inexpensive way to buy these little buggers off, so to speak. Finally one of our chaps recommended that the timing of the Colonial Naval Training Maneuvers planned for 1927 could be accelerated in such a way that would let the Crown off cheap! Let the Canucks send a couple of their ships from the cold West Coast to the warm South Pacific for a goodwill training mission during the Winter, and tell the Aussie's and Kiwi's that King George V was looking out for them. The silly Canadian Naval Minister jumped at the chance to fulfill such a "Worthy Crown Mission", Ha Ha Ha! I mean, how much of a military force or threat could one CL and 2 DD's represent to the IJN? This whole event is a total political sham, if I do say so myself. I mean, if we really wanted to send a message to the Emperor, we would have told the Canucks to send the HMCS Canada with its 8 x 15" guns, instead. The Big Mistake that Ottawa made was to try to keep the movement of this handful of ships out of the public domain. Instead of announcing the transit of a few trips for training maneuvers, the silly Prime Minister decided to keep it secret lest he risk alienating the war-weary Progressives in Parliament. The whole episode reflects the PM's perceived lack of authority and credibility coming out of last year's Election mess. Now look what has happened, the whole bloody affair has blown up in his bloody face. He'll be accused of risking a new Great War by doing the bidding of the bloody Colonial Governor-General again! No way he survives this mess. You chaps don't need to worry, the bloody Liberals will be back in power in short-order after the Government falls, and they'll win in a landslide. Don't be surprised if those bloody bastards offer to disarm unilaterally!! See what kind of crap that us chaps have to live with? You'll see for yourselves soon, just wait until the bloody Filipino's and Manchurian's start to ask for more and more Yen from Tokyo to help them with all of their perceived problems! Then you'll come to same understanding that we have about these colonial leeches."

In Canada - The AM session of Parliament has been delayed for over 90 minutes from it's scheduled start due to the chaos in the streets and the inability of the Chambers to muster a required quorum. Finally, after the benediction and roll call, on a pre-arranged signal, the entire Liberal block of both Chambers stands-up in unison and exits the hall. Attempts by Prime Minister Meighen to plead, then threaten them, to return are rebuffed by all. Moving on, after a motion to postpone the meeting is voted down, the PM tries to explain the circumstances that find Canadian Naval vessels sailing west in the Pacific without almost anyone's knowledge except for the handful of people in the Cabinet. "The headline that appeared in American Newspapers has no merit whatsoever. Our ships and sailors are engaged in a routine military exercise in conjunction with our Commonwealth Brothers-in-Arms. That the ships docked and took on fuel at a non-military facility, paying for their provisioning in Pounds Sterling, should be proof enough that this doesn't represent some kind of clandestine way to help the Americans..........." At that, with another pre-arraigned signal, the entire Progressive Delegation stood up and quietly exited the Hall, leaving the minority Conservatives holding the bag, so to speak, on this entire unsorted affair.

In Java - Rumors are spreading of a reported clash between PNI and Communist guerrillas deep in the jungles of Java.

Dateline, Ottawa: Following a series of individual late-night meetings of all three (3) main Political Parties with The Colonial Governor-General, the following writ was issued: "The current state of affairs within Canada, as well as the outside world, require that the Canadian Nation needs to speak with one singular voice that reflects the will of the Canadian People. The experience of the past year has shown that the Canadian people deserve an opportunity to more fully define the type of Government, Institutions, and Policies that they desire without needless outside interferences. Therefore, as The Crown's Legal Representative to this country, I am ordering the dissolution of the current 15th Parliament, effective immediately. Furthermore, I am ordering all Provinces to fully cooperate in fast-tracking the election of the 16th Parliament no later than 9/26/1926. May God provide guidance and fair judgement to the next Government of Canada. God Bless King George V. " -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Coastal Guns at Legaspi, 44,55, firing at TF 4 TF 4 troops unloading over beach at Legaspi, 44,55

Dateline, Geneva, Switzerland. Both the French and the British Representatives to the League of Nations met with their Japanese counterparts at separate, but obviously closely choreographed, meetings behind closed doors. The message, delivered in polite but frank diplomatic terms, was the same: "Please refrain from further public invitations for the Western Nations to join the Japanese "Co-Prosperity" Organization in the Far East. The ill-gotten territory and economic gains are considered illegitimate and, as such, no Western Nation is interested in extending credibility or recognition this entity"

The Japanese Representative to the League of Nations had a busy schedule on September 15, 1926. His first meeting was at 2:00 PM, local time, with his British counterparts, who delivered the above message. The Japanese Representative replied “I am happy that you have given me the opportunity to discuss this. For we have great respect and admiration for Great Britain, and have no wish to cause her any unnecessary discomfort. The situation in Asia is…complex, as it always is. We view the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere as a means of guiding our more backward brethren into the 20th century family of nations. Perhaps my English is off, I believe you said the words “ill-gotten territory”. Well, even if other Western nations feel that way, we sincerely hope our British brothers do not share that view. We are using our armed forces much the same way you used yours in the last century, to maintain peace and stability in the region. In all cases, we were invited by the local government – I believe the English term is “warlord” in some cases – because they were being oppressed by the Chinese government. And in light of the alliance China had with America, we saw no choice but to strike her first, before she could gather enough strength to hurt Japan.

As far as the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere is concerned, I must remind you, my esteemed colleague and friend, it was formed as a direct result of the rejection of Manchuko and other emerging Asian nations admission into the League of Nations. I humbly apologize if it has caused Great Britain any consternation, we were hoping that it would have the opposite effect. I should tell you now we have been approached by rebels from Burma, asking for admission into the Sphere. You need not worry about them any longer, we imprisoned them, and will turn them over to you if you wish. We respect Great Britain, and the order she brings to her colonies. Despite the proximity of the Asian War to places like Hong Kong and Shanghai, we once again assure you that you have nothing to fear from Japan. (Ten second pause)

“Perhaps we can use this issue for constructive ends. I have been instructed by my government to give you this message for you to take to London. It is this. Japan will end the war with China and America, and disband the Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere if: 1) Both China and the USA renounce all claims to territory Japan has or will liberate before September 30, 1926. 2) The newly liberated nations and provinces in Asia be admitted as full members of the League of Nations. 3) The United States joins the League of Nations. 4) Japan be recognized as the stabilizing protectorate of Asia and its peoples.

All we seek is order and security, like you have done so admirably in your colonial empire. I know I have given you a lot of information, my friend, and the hour is late. As it turns out, I have the French Representative waiting for me, so I must bid you farewell for now. Shall we agree to meet again after we have received our instructions from our governments, say, in 3 to 7 days?”

The meeting ends.

The meeting with the French Representative takes place, in the same office with the same Japanese Representative and staff, at 2:45 PM. The Japanese representative listens, quietly and politely, to the above message. His face was deadpan, but the French Representative later recalled his eyes were “predatory”

I am happy you have given me the opportunity to discuss this. I cannot recall the last time the two of us had a private conversation. It seems like whenever we’re in the same room, our mutual friend the British Representative is here with us, and usually you’re silent while we do the talking. It is funny, you know, the British Representative delivered an identical message less than an hour ago. And now you are here, delivering the same message, pretending to be a Great Power we should actually respect.

“I’m sorry, you look troubled right now. Can I offer you a drink? I’m afraid we have no champagne or cognac here, or any of the other fruity drinks you French so enjoy. Can I offer you some sake, instead? It’s the best brand in Tokyo, made from our finest rice. No? Very well, then.

You look speechless. That’s all right. The British Representative and I already had a very productive conversation about the Asian Crisis, and if you don’t mind my saying so, we much prefer to deal with them anyway. The British are a Great Power. They are strong and honorable, and they understand how to run an empire. You have none of those qualities.

What is the meaning of this, you ask? Come now. Let’s stop playing games. You come here, speaking to me as if we were one of your Indo-Chinese lackeys who will quake in fear at your self-righteous indignation. So you don’t like what we’re doing in Asia. So what? What are you doing to do about it? Send the Grand Armie or the French Foreign Legion after us? Abandon the Mediterranean so we may sink your navy? Please, don’t insult my intelligence. You’re not sending any reinforcements to Asia. They must protect your homeland against the Italians and the Soviets. And let’s not forget you need to keep the Germans from rising up again. Who knows? Maybe some day Great Britain will remember why your north coast is named Brittany. Had it not been for Great Britain, Japan, and yes the Americans too, you wouldn’t even be sitting in front of me now – you’d be sitting in some rural French schoolhouse trying to learn how to grovel in German.

Leaving so soon? Wait, don’t go! I actually have something that is important to both of our national interests to discuss. I’m afraid I’m not as good at speaking French as English, hopefully I didn’t say anything that could be misconstrued. Are you sure you don’t want any sake? No? Very well then, please sit down. Thank you.

Here is what is important. The number of terrorist attacks in the Guangxi Province are rising. We have captured some of the terrorists. They are from an Indochinese group called the Viet Minh. The fools are hoping to use Guangxi as a base to build up strength to drive you out of Indochina. Ah, I see that has gained your attention. You must know who they are, they have banners hanging up in Hanoi, along with the ones that are pro-French and pro-Japanese. Apparently, they believe your propaganda and think that they’ll have an easier time fighting the Imperial Japanese Army then they would the Tonkin Division. Like I said, fools. You need not worry about them – we deal harshly with any rebels we find in any area where the Imperial Army is operating. The ones we capture will not trouble you again. What concerns us, however, is they are operating on both sides of the border, and they continue to attack our forces and disturb the peace and tranquility of Guangxi. This must be stopped. Either your forces deal with the problem on your side of the border, or you will permit us to cross into Indochina to stamp out this problem that plagues both of our peoples.

That is all. You may leave. What’s that? Oh please, spare me your empty threats. Don’t make the same mistake the Chinese and Americans made with us. Really, what will you do? Join them in their pending defeat? Hope the British come to your aid twice in less then ten years? Do you really think any sane British leader will ask more young lives be wasted to prop up your failing empire on the other side of the world? Of course they will not. Like us, the British understand the meaning of power and strength. That is why we are such good friends. And in Asia, you have neither of those, so you would be wise not insult us again by pretending you do. Good day.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 09/17/26

Dateline, Canada: The 16th Canadian Parliamentary Election has taken-on the characteristics of a whirlwind, especially from the Liberals point of view. Mass rallies in all major urban centers, taking on a decidedly Anti-Crown/Anti-War/and Isolationist fervor, have taken a firm grip of the Public's attention. Media reports, ever slanting leftward anyway, are likening current events to the Anti-Great War Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The Conservative Party is being successfully portrayed as the "Lackeys and lap dogs of King George V" and "Reactionary purveyors and promoters of British Colonial Rule around the Globe".